IloveNYC12

Hi,

I just wanted to find out if there is anyone on the forum who has carried out a PR traineeship in New York?

I'm a PR professional from the UK looking to come out to NYC in the new year (preferably January) to carry out a traineeship with an Entertainment PR firm.

I have looked into visas and know that I will need a J1 Trainee visa - however, before I can apply for the visa I need to secure a trainee placement with a PR firm in New York. I have emailed a number of firms but I just wanted to find out:

1) If anyone else had done a similar traineeship?
2) Does anyone know of a PR firm who hires international trainees?

I am quite unique in that I have been working in PR in the UK for past six and a half years. After being made redundant I am looking to refresh my PR skills by breaking into Entertainment PR in NYC - which has always been a dream.

Any help would be kindly appreciated. I look forward to your responses

RICH

Try the firm who represents Sharon Osborne? She is doing Americas got talent in NJ.

IloveNYC12

Hi Rich,

Thanks for the reply.

Do you know of anyone who has carried out a traineeship with the company or do you know of a British trainee who has carried out a PR traineeship in New York?

Thanks,

ILOVENYC12

Untitled 3

You'll struggle to find a PR firm that would be willing to bring over a trainee. In the PR industry that translates as unpaid internship. With so many people willing to work for nothing why would they bother to go looking abroad.

What area of PR are you currently in? With 6 years experience I'd recommned that you to stay within your area of PR expertise in order to secure employment in NYC then switch paths once you're here.

GeoffM

You're quite right in that being unique helps - yet I'm not sure what you've said is unique!

Mr Weeze

My knowledge of PR is limited, but I'll throw some general business principles at this. Your unique area of skill here is marketing to the UK? So work out how that will help in NYC. So maybe:
- look for firms that help domestic firms try to go international, especially trying to get into the UK market
- look for firms that help UK companies try to break the US - you at least know the workings of the UK
- if you have specialised in any particular area of PR, look for firms specialising in that which may be looking to expand, possibly even moving internationally.

To my (admittedly drawing beyond my knowledge of PR here) mind, 6.5 years does not sound like you offer something I can't find in a lot of places generally. I would imagine that something like PR may be a bit similar to journalism, in that you have a portfolio of work you have done? Are there any companies you did work for who are in the US? Would they be interested in hiring into their marketing function?

It also sounds like the sort of thing Linkedin was made for.

Finally, I have zero marketing knowledge, and I don't know anyone who has done a PR internship other than people with oil companies as students. That was in the UK in the late 90s, so I don't imagine it is relevant today.

Nutmegger

This is so very true. NYC PR firms in the entertainment field have people who have no need for a visa falling over themselves for unpaid internships. The OP would be better off, as Untitled 3 says, getting together a great UK resume to pique the interest of the folks in NY, or working for a UK firm with a US presence who might be willing to transfer him/her. I'm afraid there's nothing unique about having previously worked in PR for six years.

Bob

With 6 odd years experience, you probably don't even quality for a J1 internship anymore.

Good luck though!

RICH

No I do not know anyone, it was just a thought, for you to follow up on if you want.